The upcoming Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payment date is October 29, 2025. CPP payments are typically made on the 3rd-last business day of the month, except for December when payment is made a bit earlier to account for end-of-year holidays.
The Canada Pension Plan is a federally-sponsored pension program that Canadians pay into while they're employed. While most people wait until age 65 to begin receiving these pension payments, you can apply to receive them as early as age 60.
Here is a guide to the CPP program, covering the 2025 payment dates, possible payment amounts, extra benefits, and more.
Key Takeaways
- You can start receiving CPP benefit payments as early as age 60, but will get higher payments the longer you wait (maxes out at 70).
- Your CPP payments may include additional benefits you qualify for, such as CPP disability.
CPP payment dates 2025
Canada pension dates are monthly and are typically received near the end of the month, on the third-to-last business day. Here are the CPP payment dates for 2025:
January 29, 2025February 26, 2025March 27, 2025April 28, 2025May 28, 2025June 26, 2025July 29, 2025August 27, 2025September 25, 2025- October 29, 2025
- November 26, 2025
- December 22, 2025
Those registered for direct deposit can expect their payments to appear in their bank account exactly on the Canada pension dates listed above. But if you choose cheques instead of direct deposits, you can expect your payments to come a bit later because they’ll only be mailed out sometime during the last three business days of every month.
Am I eligible for CPP and QPP?
The eligibility criteria and payment dates for CPP and Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) are the same. You must meet the age and contribution requirements for both programs:
- Age: You must be at least 60 years old to begin receiving these benefits
- Contribution: You must have made at least one qualifying CPP contribution during your years of employment
Some Canadians will receive payments from the QPP instead of CPP. If any of these situations apply to you, you should receive QPP rather than CPP:
- You only worked in Quebec
- You worked in Quebec and in one or more other provinces/territories but currently live in Quebec
- You used to work in Quebec and currently live outside of Canada, but Quebec was the last province you lived in
If you've contributed to both CPP and QPP, you'll receive a combined payment from both plans.
How much will your CPP payments be?
As of October 2024, the average CPP payment was $808.14, but there are a few factors that go into determining how much your specific payment will be. These include:
- When you began contributing (your first Canadian paycheque)
- How much you contributed over your life
- When you started receiving your benefits
- What other CPP benefits you qualify for
Here's a look at what the average CPP payment is for each of the extra benefits:
| Type of pension or benefit | Average monthly amount (reported October 2024) |
|---|---|
| Retirement pension | $808.14 |
| Post-retirement benefit | $16.01 |
| Disability benefit | $1,538.67 |
| Post-retirement disability benefit | $583.32 |
| Survivor's pension (< 65) | $527.91 |
| Survivor's pension (65+) | $325.64 |
| Children of disabled CPP contributors | $294.12 |
| Children of deceased CPP contributors | $294.12 |
| Death benefits (one-time payment) | $2,499.54 |
| Combined survivor's and retirement pension (age 65) | $1,017.67 |
| Combined survivor's pension and disability benefit | $1,293.81 |
If you want a more concrete answer regarding what you can expect, logging into your My Services Canada Account (MSCA) provides a good breakdown of your CPP history and can give a personalized estimate of what your monthly payments will be.
Will CPP benefits increase in 2025?
Due to inflation, CPP benefits rose by 2.6% in January 2025. This increase is smaller than the 4.8% rise seen in 2024.
Legislation has CPP amounts tied to inflation so that payments keep up with the cost of living. Thanks to the Canada Pension Plan enhancement, payments are scheduled to increase every year through 2026.
What is the maximum CPP payment for 2025?
The maximum CPP payment Canadians can receive in 2025 is $1,433 per month. However, this doesn't include any extra benefits.
Once you consider the extra benefits you can qualify for, even the maximum CPP amount can go up substantially.
Here's an overview of the maximum CPP payments for 2025:
| Type of pension or benefit | Max amount |
|---|---|
| Retirement pension | $1,433 |
| Post-retirement benefit | $47.82 |
| Disability benefit | $1,673.24 |
| Post-retirement disability benefit | $598.49 |
| Survivor's pension (< 65) | $770.88 |
| Survivor's pension (65 +) | $859.80 |
| Children of disabled CPP contributors | $301.77 |
| Children of deceased CPP contributors | $150.89 |
| Death benefits (one-time payment) | $2,500 |
| Combined survivor's and retirement pension (age 65) | $1,449.53 |
| Combined survivor's pension and disability benefit | $1,683.57 |
Though the base CPP rate isn't much, including things like the post-retirement disability benefit can help.
For more information, see Canada Pension Plan: Pensions and benefits monthly amounts.
How to get the maximum CPP payments
To get the maximum CPP payment, you need to have contributed the maximum amount every year for at least 40 years, which is called the Yearly Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE).
For 2025, the YMPE is $71,300. In 2024, the YMPE amount was $68,500.
This means you'll stop contributing to your CPP once your income reaches this level during the year. But it's not enough to just make that amount every once in a while. You need to make more than the YMPE for at least 40 years for it to have an effect.
Keep in mind that the YMPE increases every year – it's gone from $28,900 in 1990 to $71,300 in 2025.
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$25 GeniusCash + Delicious meal choices with fresh ingredients + Front-door delivery.Where does the CPP money come from?
Your CPP money comes from the Canada Pension Plan, a fund made up of contributions by employees, employers, and self-employed people.
You don’t need to sign up to make CPP payments – this happens automatically when you reach age 18 and are employed.
What are the max CPP contributions in 2025?
If your income is below the first earnings ceiling or YMPE, here’s what your max CPP contribution can be in 2025:
- Employers and employees: $4,034.10 each
- Self-employed people: $8,068.20
If your income is above the first earnings ceiling but below a second earnings ceiling, you’re subject to a second CPP contribution (CPP2). The second ceiling is about 14% higher than the first earnings ceiling in 2025 and it will stay at this level for the foreseeable future.
- First earnings ceiling: $71,300
- Second earnings ceiling: $81,200
Employers and employees face a rate of 4% whereas the self-employed rate pay 8%, and these are the per-contribution maximum amounts:
- Employers and employees: $396 each
- Self-employed people: $792
When should you start collecting CPP payments?
You can choose to receive your CPP payments as early as age 60 or as late as age 70.
Typically, Canadians begin receiving CPP at age 65.
Age 60 is the earliest you can choose to start receiving CPP payments if you've made at least one valid contribution at some point in your life. However, there's a penalty for receiving CPP early, which means your monthly payments will be lower than if you wait until later in life.
Age 70 is the latest you can delay receiving your CPP payments. You’ll receive the highest possible payment amount by starting at this date, about 42% more than someone who started collecting at age 60.
Here’s how your payments will increase or decrease based on starting age:
| Starting age | Monthly change | Maximum change | Average monthly payment (December 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before 65 | 0.6% decrease | 36% decrease | As low as $517.21 |
| At 65 | 0% | 0% | $808.14 |
| After 65 | 0.7% increase | 42% increase | As high as $1,147.56 |
To get the earliest payment possible, you’ll sacrifice earning potential in the long term. If you need this benefit to help cushion your other retirement income, try to wait until age 65 so you'll lose the least amount of money.
How to apply for CPP payments
Many Canadians assume that CPP payments automatically begin at retirement, but this isn't the case – you'll need to apply first. You can choose to file an application online or send a paper application in the mail.
Here are a few notes on how to fill out and submit your application:
- If you'd prefer to fill things out by hand, you can download the form to print here: Form ISP-1000.
- Going the online route will require a My Service Canada Account (MSCA).
- It's wise to apply in advance since it can take up to 120 days to process your application. This time goes down to about 28 days for online applications.
Who pays into the CPP?
Almost all working Canadians pay into the CPP, including:
- Workers over the age of 18
- Workers in Canada (outside of Quebec)
- Those who earn more than $3,500 per year
Employers pay half the required contribution and employees pay the other half. Self-employed people pay both halves.
Still, there are some exemptions:
- Workers in Quebec: Pay into QPP instead
- Age-exempt: Under 18 and over 69
- Low wages: Earn less than the minimum of $3,500 per year
- Disabled: People who receive the disability benefit
- Non-pensionable earnings: Tips, gratuities, service awards, travel expenses, etc.
What to do if your CPP payment is late
If you notice your CPP payment is late, try contacting your financial institution. There could be an issue with your chequing account or a complication on the bank's end.
If the bank can't confirm any issues or errors on their end, reaching out to Service Canada is the next step. It's recommended that you wait at least a week after your expected payment date before contacting them.
You can reach Service Canada via their toll-free number: 1-800-277-9914.
For more information, see Contact Canadian Pension Plan.
Additional CPP benefits
There are a few extra payments that you may qualify for in addition to the standard Canada pension payments. These are called "benefits" and you have to apply for each one separately. The only exception to this is the Post-Retirement Benefit.
CPP post-retirement benefit
The Post-Retirement Benefit (PRB) is a small monthly payment you'll receive if you continue to work while receiving your pension payment between the ages of 60 and 70.
Here are some details about this benefit:
- It automatically applies to people who work while receiving a pension
- You must contribute to CPP until age 65
- You can choose to contribute to CPP from 65 to 70 to bump up overall pension income
CPP disability pension
The CPP disability pension is a monthly payment for people under age 65 who cannot work because of a disability. You don't have to make CPP contributions while receiving this benefit.
Details regarding this benefit include these:
- It's provided to people with severe or prolonged disabilities that prevent them from working
- There are minimum contribution requirements for eligibility
- It's only available to those under age 65
- At age 65, it converts to a normal pension
CPP post-retirement disability benefit
The post-retirement CPP disability benefit is a monthly payment for people who are disabled but not eligible for the disability pension (above) because they’ve received CPP payments for more than 15 months.
Consider these details:
- It's only available to those under age 65
- You may be eligible for this benefit in addition to your retirement pension
- There are minimum contribution requirements to be eligible for this
- Consideration is automatic if you don’t meet typical CPP disability payment requirements
CPP children’s benefit
The CPP children's benefit is a monthly payment for dependent children of CPP contributors who are disabled or deceased.
Here are a few things to note:
- The disabled contributor’s child’s benefit is for the child of the person receiving the CPP disability benefit
- The surviving child’s benefit is for the child of the deceased CPP contributor
- Eligibility and benefits end when the recipient turns age 18 or 25, if they're a full-time student
- This is a flat rate, adjusted annually
CPP survivor’s pension
The CPP survivor's pension is a monthly payment for spouses and partners of deceased CPP contributors. Payments begin at the time of the contributor’s death and will continue even if the recipient remarries.
Here are a few more details to consider:
- Amount over 65: If you're not receiving any other CPP benefits and are over 65, you'll receive 60% of the contributor’s retirement pension
- Amount under 65: If you're not receiving any other CPP benefits and are under 65, you'll receive a flat rate plus 37.5% of the contributor’s retirement pension
- If you’re widowed more than once, you'll only receive one survivor’s pension, whichever is larger
- You can receive the survivor’s pension along with other CPP benefits, but not the full amount of both
CPP death benefit
The CPP death benefit is a one-time payment after the death of a CPP contributor.
These details apply:
- This benefit goes to the estate executor or beneficiaries after contributor’s death
- It's provided as a one-time lump sum of $2,500
FAQ
When's the next CPP payment date?
The next CPP payment date is October 29, 2025. You may receive your payment a bit later than these dates if you've opted to receive yours as a cheque sent through the mail.
What are the CPP payment dates for 2025?
The CPP payment dates for 2025 began on January 29 and will end on December 22, 2025. All CPP payments are made near the end of each month, typically on the third-to-last business day. These dates change each year.
What is the maximum CPP payment for 2025?
The maximum CPP payment for 2025 is $1,433/month. Several factors contribute to the amount you receive, including whether you're eligible for other related benefits, in which case you could earn as much as $1,683.57/month.
Are seniors getting extra money in 2025 in Canada?
Most government benefit programs have increased payment amounts for 2025, including CPP payments and OAS benefits. The GAINS (Guaranteed Annual Income System) program in Ontario now provides monthly payments of up to $87 for eligible seniors.
What is the new $1,200 benefit in Canada for seniors?
While it’s not a new payment, the Canadian government provided a one-time $1,200 payment for low-income seniors affected by reduced GIS payments in 2021. This was meant to help those who received CERB, etc., during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How much will my CPP cheque increase in 2025?
CPP benefits rose by 2.6% in January 2025, mostly due to inflation. In 2024, payments increased by 4.8%. The 2024 average payment was $816.52 per month versus 2023's average payment of $760.07 per month.
Are CPP payments taxed?
Yes, CPP payments count as taxable income and are taxed at your marginal rate. The good news is that your income in retirement is usually much lower, so you’ll likely fall into a lower tax bracket.
When should I start receiving CPP payments?
Most Canadians start receiving CPP at 65, but you have options. If you begin at 60, your payments could be up to 36% lower. On the other hand, waiting until 70 boosts your monthly payments by 42%.
What are the scenarios that could affect my CPP payment amount?
Several factors can impact your CPP benefits, including contributing after age 65, periods of low or no income, and taking time off to raise children. Divorce, separation, and pension sharing can also play a role.
What happens to my CPP payments if I move outside of Canada?
You can still receive CPP if you move outside of Canada, and you can choose to have it paid in either CAD or your local currency. However, living elsewhere may mean you may have to pay a tax of 35%.
What are the differences between OAS and CPP?
The biggest difference is that OAS comes from taxes you've already paid, whereas CPP is something that you contribute during your working years. Plus, OAS recipients don't have the choice to delay or receive payouts early.
What is the $300 federal payment in Canada in 2024?
We aren't aware of a $300 payment offered by the federal government, although there was a New Brunswick provincial program that provided a one-time $300 affordability payment to working families. This occurred in the spring of 2024.
Can I share my CPP payments with my partner?
Yes, this process is called "pension sharing" and often results in tax savings for the household. To be eligible, you need to be receiving (or eligible to receive) your pension and live with your spouse or common-law partner.
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